Author Archives: Jen

Prayer for Struggles and Trials

Jesus, I pray that in the midst of trials and struggles we are experiencing right now, that we will look to You to be our strength and refuge until these calamities have passed by (Psalm 57:1).

Only You know the depths of pain, fear, anger, sadness, and hurt. Only You can save. Only You can make all things new. Only You can heal hearts.

I put my trust in You, Lord, and believe that You are in this. I know You have a plan and it is for good. Help us to focus our eyes on You.

Place a hedge of protection around our household and keep us safe from evil. Give us wisdom as to where You want us to be, and what actions we need to take. Guide our every step and help us to choose love in all things.

Thank You for Your grace, mercy, love and forgiveness.

Amen

Kim and Krickett Carpenter

Today I had the honor of speaking to the Carpenters about their book and movie, The Vow. I can’t give you any details about the interview until Valentines Day, so be sure and come back then.

I can tell you that the movie and their book comes out tomorrow, and you should definitely see the movie and buy the book. This couple is real and so genuine. Speaking to them felt like we had been friends forever. I can’t wait to share our interview with you on the 14th.

The one where I feel like a Rock Star!

Tonight I attended the advanced screening for The Vow from Sony Pictures, and let me just say you have to go see it this Friday!

We arrived about twenty minutes early with our reservation printed out, and bypassed the line to go straight into the theater. There were a couple other people standing by the ticket taker with their printed reservations, and they were being told that the seats were all taken, but they could come back tomorrow for a different movie showing. My friend and I looked at each other in a panic, and all sorts of thoughts were running through my head. The other people put their name on a list and left, and I handed my reservation to the man. He looked at it and said, “oh, you’re with Grace Hill Media, we have seats for you.” Then he took us to our seats, and they had signs on them with my name! I totally felt like a rock star!

The movie started without any previews and we were hooked from the beginning. I can’t give you details, but I am telling you to see this movie! It is so heartwarming and tender.

Tomorrow I have the honor of interviewing the couple that this film was based on. What do you think I should ask them?

I’ll be posting my interview with them on Valentine’s day!

The Vow

The Vow will be in theaters nationwide beginning Friday, February 10th. The film is inspired by the real-life story of Kim & Krickett Carpenter. They fell in love and got married, but Krickett lost her memory of Kim just two months after their wedding because of a car accident.  Kim had to win Krickett’s heart all over again.

Kim and Krickett were able to fall in love again because of their shared faith in the Lord, Kim’s patience, and Krickett’s compassion. They recently celebrated their 18th wedding anniversary!

The movie stars Rachel McAdams as Paige and Channing Tatum as Leo. What a beautiful couple for this romantic drama!

“Paige and Leo are a happy newlywed couple whose lives are shattered by a car accident that puts Paige in a coma. Waking up with severe memory loss, Paige has no memory of Leo or their marriage, a confusing relationship with her parents (Sam Neill and Jessica Lange), and an ex-fiance` (Scott Speedman) she may still have feelings for. ”

I’m looking forward to this Sony Pictures film, and I was asked to an advanced screening tomorrow night! I’m so excited to see it, and I’m taking my kleenex.

This movie is the perfect date night movie. My daughter and her boyfriend will be seeing it opening day to celebrate their 4 month anniversary and Valentine’s Day. When will you see it?

Click here to watch the trailer_The Vow

Top Ten TV Shows on my DVR

I’m back after a week off filled with all types of flu information you do NOT want to know. Trust me. I didn’t want to know it either, but when my husband flies on an airplane and brings the plague back to us, it’s not pretty.

We are still in the throes of sickness, I think now we only have strep and the stomach flu. Pray for us, please?

Ok, I like to kick back in the evening and watch a good show. With basketball, homework, housework, and life, sometimes it’s just best to DVR it and watch it later. These are the shows you would find on my DVR if you were brave enough to look.

1. Dance Moms  It’s on Lifetime and it cracks me up. Being a former Dance Mom, I can honestly say I’ve never acted like those women do, but I have seen it. It’s not funny in real life, but it is on TV.

2. Parenthood I’ve watched it from the beginning and I love it. I can relate to the characters, and it feels homey.

3. Last Man Standing  It’s Tim Allen’s new show and he does not let you down. If you grew up watching Home Improvement, the man is still funny.

4.  One Tree Hill Oh man! Do I love these characters? YES! Do I hate it that this is the last season? YES!! I want to check out the spoilers but I can’t.

5. Friends I watched it with my parents as a teen, and I don’t remember being embarrassed, but I watch now wondering how I wasn’t. Some of the stuff is adult, and I don’t know if I would want to watch it with my kids. I’m loving it now because Rachel just had her baby.

6. Grey’s Anatomy I haven’t always been a fan of the story lines, but I’m still hanging in there.

7. The Middle Because seriously, it is good stuff! It’s based in Indiana which makes it even cooler, but we compare ourselves to the Heck’s way too much!

8. Private Practice I’ve had some moments in the past where I wondered why I watched it, then they come out with an incredibly moving episode. I’m holding out for Addyson to have her baby.

9. The Vampire Diaries I started this one late but it keeps drawing me back. It’s not for the weak stomach though, it can be gory at times.

10. Finding Bigfoot on Animal Planet   My teenage son and I enjoy watching this together, he is the believer and I am the skeptic. We have fun joking around throughout the show, and that’s why it stays on DVR.

Hop on over to OhAmanda and see what everyone else is up to.

Inspirational Quotes

Ever had one of those days where you just needed to read something happy and positive? Well you came to the right spot!

1.Every great dream begins with a dreamer. Always remember, you have within you the strength, the patience, and the passion to reach for the stars to change the world.
Harriet Tubman

2. The happiness of life is made up of minute fractions—the little soon-forgotten charities of a kiss, a smile, a kind look, a heartfelt compliment in the disguise of a playful raillery, and the countless other infinitessimals of pleasurable thought and genial feeling.
Samuel Taylor Coleridge

3. Happiness resides not in posessions and not in gold; the feeling of happiness dwells in the soul.
Democritus

4. When one door of happiness closes, another opens, but often we look so long at the closed door that we do not see the one that has been opened for us.
Helen Keller

5. The man of wisdom is never of two minds;
the man of benevolence never worries;
the man of courage is never afraid.
Confucius

6. Let thy words be few.
Ecclesiastes 5:2 

7. The more difficulties one has to encounter, within and without, the more significant and the higher in inspiration his life will be.
Horace Bushnell

8. Knowing is not enough; we must apply.
Willing is not enough; we must do.
Johann Wolfgang von Goethe

9. The best way out is always through.
Robert Frost

10. If you do not hope, you will not find what is beyond your hopes.
St. Clement of Alexandra

 
I hope one of these spoke to you today. I feel like I’ve been a bit of a downer lately, and wanted to pick you up!
I’m linking up with OhAmanda for her Top Ten Tuesday. Yes, I know it’s Wednesday. Yesterday was hectic.

Prayer for my broken heart

Jesus, I come to you with a broken heart, hopeless and agonizing over the spiritual condition of someone I love so much. I confess that I just want to scream, “Why don’t you get it! Jesus loves you and He deems you worthy. He is the only perfect way to the Father. It doesn’t have to be so hard. LIFE doesn’t have to be so hard! See your blessings and count them as joy. Open your heart and let Him in. Can’t you see how much sense being a christian makes?”

Lord, please forgive me for trying to control the situation, and taking it out of Your hands. I don’t want to get ahead of You and Your plans. Help me to use this trial to develop my relationship with You. I know You are the God of miracles, and I believe You are working even when the times seem so dark. Help me to keep my eyes on You, as You save the ones I love.

Amen

Prayer for Guidance

Dear Lord,

Turn my darkness into light, and guide me away

from things that are sinful and wrong.

Teach me to love my neighbors

rather than judge them.

Let me cast love and peace,

instead of stones.

Amen

Things I’m Enjoying

I’m linking up again with OhAmanda this week for a Top Ten List. There’s been a little sickness going around my house which has made my brain just a little bit fuzzy. I couldn’t come up with a new topic, so I’m just going to use what Amanda suggested. That’s why the title of this is strangely similar to hers. Forgive me for the fuzzy brain, and I will work in advance for next week’s topic.

These are in no particular order. That would require a clear brain as well.

10. I am enjoying my kids.

They are getting along, and it’s such a sweet thing! Last night, Brooke decided to make brownies with a peanut butter icing that she whipped up from scratch. (They should have a place on this list. So. Very. Good!) While she was doing this, the boys were sitting in the kitchen and they were talking to one another! Granted, they may have been silently begging for a taste of brownies, but I enjoyed listening to them.

9. Maraschino cherries.

I picked up a jar at the grocery thinking I would splurge and put a couple in my diet coke. When I put two in, they looked lonely. I ended up with six in the cup and it was so tasty. I also enjoy them in my water, and it adds a nice pink touch to it. I guess it makes me feel like a kid!

8. Basketball

Brooke is cheering on the Cougars and and Matthew is playing on the Louisville Cardinals team. This last weekend we had 5 basketball games, and I loved every minute of it!

7. My awesome church

Every Sunday God is in the house! I alternate between frantically taking notes and mesmerized and unmoving. I am fed with the Word, and encouraged to feed myself the rest of the week.

6. Siri

This is my first iPhone, and Siri just rocks! We left the basketball game Saturday night and we were starving. I promptly asked Siri for the number to Pizza King and she asked me if I wanted her to dial it. I didn’t even have to dial!

5.Bed Head Hair gel

Call me crazy, but I’ve been letting my hair grow out, and it’s been quite a while since my last trim. My hair is thick and naturally wavy, but I normally straighten it. The longer the hair gets, the more time it takes to straighten it. I’ve been lazy lately and just going with the waves.

4. Reading the Bible in 90 days

I’ve done this a few other times, and I get so much out of it every time. Every single time I am in God’s Word, He speaks to me.

3. Ecclesiastes

Solomon teaches that true satisfaction comes from knowing we are following God’s purpose for our life. It’s not found in things like money, knowledge, or popularity. That’s a great thing to read often.

2. Praying friends

I am so thankful for praying people in my life. I’ve used them a lot lately, and God is pressing me to write about it, but I’m not quite ready yet. Do you have people that you can call or text and know they will stop right then and pray? If not, contact me and I will be that person for you. It is such a blessing.

1. Prepping for Blissdom
I’ve never been to a blogging conference, but I won a free pass to Blissdom next month! I am so excited, and nervous at the same time. Is that even possible? Well, if not, then I’m more excited. Just a little bit nervous that I will be out of my comfort zone of being a total homebody. Slightly nervous about leaving my husband and kids at home for a few days too. Are you going??

Top Ten Reasons Why I Feel Old. Very Old.

I have a birthday coming up. Next week.

It’s not the BIG birthday, but it’s the one before the BIG one. ‘Nuff said.

I’m feeling old as of late, and here are some reasons why.

1. I have a decision to make. Embrace the grey hair or spend the money to cover it up. Honestly, I’ve tried to embrace it, and pluck it out with tweezers, and neither is really working for me.

2. This year Brian and I will celebrate our 18th wedding anniversary. Wow!!

3. My oldest baby has officially completed Drivers Ed and has her learners permit. (Deep breaths…Deep breaths) I still remember the feel  of her in my arms for the very first time.

4. My oldest son has had a growth spurt. We can look each other in the eyes now. I remember the first time I saw those beautiful eyes.

5. My youngest son is also growing so fast we can’t keep clothes that fit. I’m no longer able to pick him up. My baby.

6. My metabolism seems to have slowed to a turtle’s pace.

7. My knees creak when I walk up the stairs.

8. I used to be warm natured, and now I am always cold.

9. My vision is terrible!

10. As I sit here, I have a hot rice sock on my neck. I reached up to brush my hair this morning and pulled a muscle in my neck. How does this happen? I was trying to brush my hair!

Someone, please commiserate with me or tell me I’m youthful.

This post is linked up with Oh Amanda. Visit her for Top Ten Tuesday.